Black Panther Proves Soundtracks Still Matter

Black Panther arrives in theaters this weekend, and you are no doubt keenly aware of this fact. This is for a few reasons. One, Marvel’s marketing push has been both brilliant and strong. Two, the film boasts a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes (no easy feat for a comic-themed affair) and is going to bank some major box office in the coming weeks.

Finally, and not to be dismissed, is something that doesn’t directly involve the movie at all. Black Panther: The Album dropped last week, and this certainly bears mentioning as it pertains to Black Panther: The Movie. For one, Kendrick Lamar – the biggest hip-hop star in the game today – curated and contributed to the album. Secondly, he brought some friends with him; Black Panther: The Album is absolutely loaded with stars, including but not limited to the aforementioned Kendrick, Future, The Weeknd, SZA, Vince Staples, Schoolboy Q, and 2 Chainz.

Most importantly, not only is Black Panther: The Album stacked with talent, but said talent actually delivers. Simply put, this isn’t some mailed-in attempt to piggyback on the inevitable success of the Black Panther movie. Rather, Black Panther: The Album is a standalone entity, featuring such triumphs as “All the Stars” and “Pray for Me,” which would be hits regardless of their cinematic affiliation.

This is refreshing. It is also an ever-increasing rarity.

Once upon a time, soundtracks set the table for their cinematic counterparts. Hell, on many an occasion, these soundtracks actually outpaced their cinematic siblings in both commercial success and cultural weight. History is littered with killer soundtracks to average movies. Dangerous Minds. Judgment Night. Dead Presidents. City of Angels. Awesome soundtracks, average movies. Even Garden State, once a coming-of-age tale for a generation, has waned significantly in hindsight, while its soundtrack still resonates.

This is no great surprise. Music, more so than cinema, makes people feel. These feelings can be sad, glad, bad, or any combination of the three. And, when produced correctly, this music can not only elicit feelings from listeners, but also actively encourage them to cough up their money for a movie ticket. This is no easy feat, but it’s one Black Panther: The Album has down pat; it is not alone in this regard.

If anything, in hindsight, soundtracks can actually serve as representative models of their accompanying movies. Take The Bodyguard soundtrack,for instance. The Bodyguard, released in 1992, is not a particularly good movie. Co-stars Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner have virtually zero chemistry, the plot is hokey and the film drags on far too long. And yet, despite critical feedback that can kindly be labeled as a mixed bag, The Bodyguard was a certifiable smash at the box office. It was one of the highest-grossing films of 1992 and only further elevated Costner and Houston’s respective standings.